Chief People Officer

Executive Director Appointment – Chief People Officer

Joining us on a twelve to eighteen month fixed‑term contract/secondment basis as our Chief People Officer, you will play a central role in shaping the future of our organisation and ensuring our people feel valued, supported and empowered to deliver outstanding care. This is a pivotal Executive Board position, reporting directly to the Chief Executive, where your leadership will influence culture, workforce transformation and long‑term organisational success.

We are seeking an inspiring, collaborative, and forward‑thinking leader with a strong professional background in HR and Organisational Development. You will bring credibility, confidence and compassion, alongside substantial experience operating at Board level or as a Deputy with some board exposure with a proven track record of leading people functions in a large complex organisation.

Your leadership will drive workforce transformation, enabling new ways of working that bring our Trust strategy and the NHS 10‑Year Plan to life and ensuring our communities not just today but for future generations to come.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to lead meaningful change, strengthening a culture that is empowering and genuinely committed to learning and improving. You will join an Executive Team united by a clear sense of purpose and a shared commitment to making University Hospitals Plymouth a great place to work and receive care.

As Chief People Officer, you will:

• Champion and continue to embed our Trust Values, shaping a healthy, compassionate and inclusive culture where colleagues feel a sense of belonging and purpose.
• Lead workforce redesign and productivity programmes, ensuring our staffing models are fit for the future and aligned to clinical transformation and financial sustainability.
• Lead the development and delivery of a new, evidence‑based People Strategy that strengthens and improves staff experience across the organisation.
• Drive the future transformation of People Services, using technology, automation and data‑driven innovation to improve customer experience for staff and leaders.
• Advance system working, ensuring our organisation is an active and influential partner across the wider health and care landscape.
• Strengthen partnership working with trade unions, system partners and community organisations.
• Provide expert strategic advice to the Chief Executive and Board, influencing decision‑making and shaping workforce strategy at the highest level.

We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment.

We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process, please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team.

We recognise that work‑life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.

It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

15 January 2026

Very senior manager (VSM)

Depending on experience

Fixed term

18…